Thieves steal entire grape harvest

Thieves in France have broken into a vineyard and stolen a farmer's entire crop of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

They struck in Villeneuve-les-Beziers, taking advantage of a full moon and using a harvesting machine to seize 30 tonnes of grapes.

Farmer Roland Cavaille, of Languedoc-Roussillon, one of France's best-known wine growing regions, said the theft amounted to a year's work.

"They used a harvesting machine to gather grapes. This means there was no need to have lots of people, two people would have been enough," Mr Cavaille told Le Parisien newspaper.

"The area was quite isolated, it is a a few kilometres from the village and near a river. So the thieves were able to work safely."

One witness reported hearing engine noises in the early hours of the morning and police have been examining footprints left at the scene, said the newspaper.

But Mr Cavaille said the thieves were clearly professionals who could easily sell on the grapes.

He said there had been a similar grape theft had been reported in the area four years ago and that another complaint had also been filed this year.

While his vineyard was insured, it did not cover the loss of the grapes themselves.